RANK #361 / 1001 NAT · #20 / 51 NC · POP 92,131
1YR FORECAST: -0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Rockingham County, North Carolina, known as "North Carolina's North Star," offers a blend of historical significance and natural beauty. The county is rich in water resources, boasting four rivers and three lakes, including the Dan and Mayo Rivers, which provide opportunities for outdoor recreation like kayaking, boating, and hiking. Located in the Piedmont region, it is partially bordered by Virginia. Commuting to nearby Greensboro is common for many residents, with an average commute time of 27 minutes. Towns like Eden, Reidsville, Madison, and Mayodan contribute to the county's community feel.
Life in Rockingham County often appeals to families and retirees, with a significant percentage of residents owning their homes. The public school system is managed by Rockingham County Schools. The economy, historically tied to agriculture and manufacturing, is experiencing new investments. Recent economic developments include growth in sectors such as energy equipment manufacturing and data centers. These developments are bringing new jobs to the area.
Rockingham County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.1% YoY, population +0.6%, wages +6.1%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 13.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
WhiteFiber AI Data Center Campus (NC-1)
WhiteFiber Inc. (Bit Digital)
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Duke Energy Belews Lake Natural Gas Plants (Proposed)
Duke Energy
|
$850M | Proposed |
|
Williamsburg Rockingham Solar PV Park
Williamsburg Solar
|
$80M | Permitting |
|
Rockingham County Electric Cooperatives Battery Storage
North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives (FlexGen)
|
$50M | Operating |
|
UNC Health Rockingham Investment
UNC Health
|
$40M | Planned |
|
TSEA Energy Manufacturing Plant
TSEA Energy
|
$25M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Rockingham County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $57,053 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NC.
Housing in Rockingham County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $168,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $810/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Rockingham County is attracting residents (population +0.6% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -3.9%. Housing values changed +0.1% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.44% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Rockingham County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.